Production of magnesia and calcium carbonate from dolomite



R. D. PIKE 2,373,913.

PRODUCTION 0F MAGNESIA AND CALCIUM CARBONATE FROM DOLOMITE April 17, 1945.

Filed Sept. 28, 1943 um .Lanaro uns; Gm-2 unam Ions.

mtn :22 anni?.l

i INVENTOIL Roen 710. PIKE.

"5- a Tron/v: ns'.

d. N OD mesh.

z5 man@ m Patnted Apr. `17, 1945 PRODUCTION OF MAGNESIA AN) CALCIUM CARBONATE FROM DOLOMITE Robert D. Pike, Pittsburgh, Pa., assg'nor to Harbison-Walker Refractories Company, Plttsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 2.8-, 1943, Serial No. 504,128 claims'. (.Cl. .z3- 66) This invention relates to the production of mag- "ne'sia from dolomite, and' pz`tri'.i cularly to the production of magnesia and calcium carbonate by a modication' of the process disclosed in my .copending application, Serial No. 402,935, filed July 18,"1941, of Which this application is a continuation:in part.

The process of my aforesaid application in'- volves a cyclic process for the treatment of dolomite/to produce magne'sia and calcium carbonate which are' 'characterized by being .rapid settling and easily fllterab1e.- The details of that inven- --Itis among the objects of -to provide a process in accordance with that of it necessary. either to use sulfur-'free fuel or to process the kiln gasesfto remove sulfur oxides,

both of which are objectionable from the stand` point of economy.

the present invention my aforesaid application vSerial No. v402,935 in which mechanical refrigeration of the A`magnesium chloride brine is unnecessary, and in which the temperature of that brine as supplied for.

precipitation of magnesia may be as high as 85? F. so that atmospheric cooling of the brine suftion which. led to the development of those properties' will be describedsuiciently hereinafter. Suilce it at this point to state that calcined dolomite is dry hydrated and the hydrates are divided into lgranularI and. nes fractions. The granular material is reactedl with a recycled mag- 4nesium chloride (MgCl2) brine. to produce hy- 2o drated magnesia- [MgiOI-D al by the reaction:

' ACaClz-i-su'rplus MgCli` (Reaction) The MgCl: used for that purpose is regenerated by reacting the nne'friwtion of the dolomite hy-l diates. with the calcium chloride `(CaClz) and ces in all seasons. f

Another object'is to provide a modification of the process of my aforesaid application inl which sulfate is deliberately introduced into the cycling brine, suitably as gypsum, to increase the filtering `rate of the hydrated magnesia without objectionably affecting the settling .and filtering characteristics lof vthe calcium carbonate, and which in a particular embodiment provides for 'removal of sulfate from the liquors cycled to evap.

' Aorators, to avoid scaling.

duced into the cycling magnesium chloride brine residual MgCl2 produced by the -foregoing reaction, and carbonating the reaction mixture after all oefthe calcium hydroxide ofthe fine hfraction -has been converted to calcium chloride by reac.

tion with the residual MgCl2, 'thus regenerating the cycling MgCl2 required in Reaction I and pre. cipitatingcalclum carbonate (CaCQa) 'MgkoHii+caC12-pfco2=Mgci2+caco3|-H2o o i (Reaction 11)v 'In my' above-identified application it ispointedout that the temperature factor is critical in performing the magnesio. precipitating reaction, and particularly thatthe' MgClz" brine should enter the reactor ata temperature not over 65 F., and

the temperature rise ,during the reaction should be limited to .from 4. to 6l F.l .That requires, at

least in summer weathenarticial cooling of the .regenerated-brine. It is pointed out also thatthe introductionof sulfate .into the cycle, e. g., vby

-carbonating with kiln gases where thewfuel used in calcinin'g the dolomite carries sulfur, should be avoided because. it has an adverse effect upon the Yet another object is to provide aprocess of this 4general type in which the sulfate is introby using it to scrubA the gases from the kiln in which the hydrated magnesia is dead burned, and in a particular embodiment of which a portion of the calcium carbonate produced in the process is cycled to the magnesium chloride brine used for such scrubbing to react with the sulfur dioiride and hydrogen chloride carried by the kiln gases settling and ltering properties o'f the C aCOs. In-

asmuch as it is economically desirable to use the kiln gasesv for carbonation, that restriction makes and with atmospheric oxygen to'produce calcium sulfate and chloride. I

Still another object is to provide a modication of the process of my aforesaid application in which the calcium carbonate is precipitated in an exceptionally finely divided state and is rendered highly lterable without increasing its grain size by .heating a thickened slurry of the carbonate in.

the attendant brine prior to filtration.

Another object is to providea process of hydratin'g calcined dolomite which renders the lhydrates resistant to dispersion and to formation of colloidal or slow settling -an'd slow filtering -hydrated-magnesia when the hydrates are mixed with magnesium chloride brine, and which vpermits the introduction of sulfate into the brine to increase the iiltering rate of the hydrated magnesia.

Yet another object is to provide a process of producing hydrated magnesio, by reaction .of hydrated dolomite calcine and magnesium chloride brine which results in a magnesia that settles and lters at commercially acceptable rates and forms cakes of unusually high solids content.

A further object is to produce, by carbonation of a slurry bf hydrated magnesia in a calcium 1 chloride brine, calcium carbonate that s of low` magnesia content and is exceedingly finely divided, and which settles and iilters quickly and easily. l

Another object is to apply sulfateto advantage in producing magnesia by' a process of the type described While controllingthe S03 concentration usually referred to as magnesia end brine and contial amount of calcium sulfate which, as mentioned in my coperidingapplication; 4causes the precipitated CaCO: tobe finer than when sulfate is not present. Normally that .is disadvantageous Abecause it reduces the filtering rate. I have: disin the cycle so 'as to maintain iilterability of the in the' production of magnesia by reaction ofA magnesium chloride brine with hydrated dolomite calcine, in that the sulfate acts'to reduce disper` sion of the hydrated magnesia and the magnesia produced settles and fllters at an acceptable rate.

Thus, as appplied to the magnesia branch of the process of my aforesaid application, `to which this covered,u however, that this tendency can be overcome and the calcium carbonate Acaused to lter at a rapid rate without substantially `increasing its particle size by boiling vthe calcium carbonate slurry prior to filtration. Moreover, a'nd for some I reason unknown to me, the s'mall amount of sul fate in the calcium chloride brine results in a 'calcium carbonate containing less magnesia (MgO), than where sulfate is` not. present. -Ad-f ditionally, the CaCOa removes from the regenerated MgCl2 brine all butminute traces of CaSO4.

This is obviously of major advantage because.

otherwise the evaporators which are necessarily used to bring the brine tto proper concentration would scale rapidly and. seriously.

I have found that it is advantageous for the .MgCl2 brine to contain sulfate equivalent to about 0.00l5to 0.0025 gram of SO: per cc of'brine when supplied for reaction with the dolomite. In a typical operation in accordance' with the present f invention the CaCl: brine .which leavesA vthe invention is particularly applicable, the Mg (QH) a can be ltered at a commercially economical rate,

and ithough the ltering rate is not so rapid as .in the ca'se of the process of my application Serial No. 402,935, the filter cake is much denser, which is desirable and compensates, at least in part, for the slower filtering rate. 1

The magnesium chloride brine preferably contains the sulfate as calcium sulfate suitably as gypsum (CaSOi), which is dissolved i the brine. A special feature of the present invention is the provision of an economical mode of adding dissolved sulfate to the/circulating magnesium chloride brine. As described in greater detail hereinafter, this is accomplished by using the regenerated MgCl2A brine from the carbonate branch to scrubl the gases of combustion from the kiln irl-which the Mg(OH)2 is dead burned. The Mg(OH)2 cake naturally carries a small amount of sulfate and chloride, chiey as CaSO4, MgS04, MgCl2, and CaCl2, and those salts are decomposed in the kiln with production of hydrogen chloride (HC1) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), and when the gases are scr bbedas stated these acid gases reactcalciu lcarbonate, calcium vsulfate and chloride are for -ed in that way.

, I have' discovered` also, and the invention is further, predicated upon this, that dispersion of thickeners in the .magnesia branch will-carry CaSO4 equivalent to about 0.0014 to 0.0017 gram of S03 per cc. By aging this brine, as by storing it for-l2 to 18 hours, CaSO4` is spontaneously precipitated and the S03 content 'of the brine is reducedtoabout 0.0006 to 0.0009 gramper'cc. This I-have found to be advantageous because the re- `sults in the carbonate branch' are betterthan i where the brine is fed to it directfromthemagnesia branch. This spontaneous deposition of calcium sulfate is not;` understood because presumably the brine is unsaturated-'withrespect to Vgypsum,fbut the precipitated form is 'probably anhydrite. I

Typically the MgCl2 brineregenerated in the carbonate branch 4from CaCl: brine aged as justdescribed willcontain Ca'SOt equivalent' to about 0.000065 to 0.00014 gram of-'SO's' per cc, which is the Mg'(OH)2 is further repressed by dry hydrating the dolomite calcine -with 'a .greater amount of Ca'Clzbrine vthan is stated in my afore` said application to. be preferable. More particularly, I have found that this result is accom? plished by increasing the amount of brine up to the maximum amount that is compatible with pro'- duction of a dry hydrate, even to the extent that the hydrate when freshly producedis slightly damp. This resultsin substantial increase in the proportion'of grains of hydrated magnesia that .are resistant to dispersion.'

Some of the sulfate wlvll naturally be carriedA down 'by the precipitated magnesia, 'probablyas MgSO4. However, the=brine that 'is formed'.

so low a concentration that little, if any, scaling dueto gypsum will occur inevaporation ofthis brine.

. The invention may be described. further with particular reference to its application to 'the proc--` ess of my aforesaid applicationserial No. 402,935.4

As described in that' application, and having reference to the accompanying flow sheet, the raw dolomite suitably mime-form ,of lumps about- Myinch to 1% inches size iscalcined in a rotary 1.05 to 1.08 specific gravity. As little as 0.4 per cent of MgCl: in thi's-brinegsuillcesv to reduce'seriously the lterinlrategf the MMOH) 2'. AS indi-.

cated above, the present invention provides an ini- 'a'period of time in a bin, not shown,` which is ordinarilyjdesirable because acins for,- sy 12 hours appears to permitsome cementing. action to occur which further increases to,V dispersion o f theprecipitated Also, it

'ing the dry hydrates to an air* separator 4 which removes most of the +65 mesh material and passes it to a ball mill 5, which operates in closed circuit with air separator 4. Separator 4 passes to a second air separator 8 material substantially all of which is -65 mesh. Air separator 6 removes the fines (-200 mesh fraction) for treatment in the carbonate branch. Material coarser than 200 mesh then passes to a third air separator 1 which returns any -200 mesh material to air separatorA 6 and passes the granular material of -65 +200 mesh size. Although I now prefer to oper- ,ate in the' manner' justindicated, with a sharp cut in particle size between the granular and the fines fractions, it willbe understood from what has been said earlier in the application that there may be some overlapping of particle sizes of the two fractions; in every case, however, the particles of the fines fraction average finer than those of the granular fraction, and the average will pass a mesh substantially nner than the mesh retaining the average of the granular fraction. Where the expressions granular or coarser and nongranular, finer, or fines fraction are used in this specification and claims, the expressions are understoodto have the above significance.

Considering first the magnesia branch, the granular fraction from air separator 'l passes to a surge bin 8 and thence to a container 9 provided with means for agitating the contents, where it is mixed with a further amount of the pure CaClz brine to convert it into a smooth, lump-free cream, or slurry. The creamed material then passes to a precipitator I for reaction with a cycling MgCl2 brine which, as described in my copending` application, is regenerated in the carbonate branch andwhich preferably contains about 11 per cent of MgCl2 and 3 per cent of CaClz and has a specic gravity of about 1.12. A critical factor is that this brine must be supplied in an amount to provide at least 105 per cent excess MgCl2 over the requirements of Reaction I. t

In accordance with the present invention, and as described in greater detail hereinafter, this MgCl2 brine contains sulfate in solution. 'I'he reaction between the brine and the hydrates prev cipitates Mg(OH)2 and forms CaClz. The reaction mixture then passes to a multi-stage thickening system, suitably of the three-stage countercurrent decantation type, shown schematically at I I. Where the magnesia is to be used for refractor'y purposes, the thickened slurry may be passed to a correction tank I2 where it is mixed with such materials as mill scale, clay, iron ore and ground dolomitic stone in appropriate amounts to confer desired properties, as known in the art. Whether corrected or not, the slurry then passes to a filter I3, suitably of the drum type. The -filtrate is returned, as shown, to the counter current decantation system II, While the washed cake is pref erably formed into shaped particles, such as cylinders about 1 inch in diameter and 11/2 inches long, in a pelletizer I4. The shapes are then dried to hard and rock-like pieces in a conventional dryer I after which they pass to a rotary kiln I6 which dischargesthem as dead-burned magnesia (M30). v

Returning to the counter current decantation system I I', wash water is introduced into the last, or third thickener. The combined Wash and filtrate passes as overflow into the second thickener, and the overflow from this passes to-the first thickener, the overflow from which Aconstitutes the cycling magnesia end brine usedin the carbonate branch. The .cycling'overflow brine from the first thickener of the counter current decantation system II is subjected to a treatment de-^ scribed hereinafter, which constitutes a feature of this invention, before it passes to the carbonate branch.

Turning now to the carbonate branch. the '200 mesh hydrates,or fines, are received in a surge bin I1 from which they pass to a container I8 -in which they are creamed to a smooth and lumpfree slurry with a, portion of the cycling magnesia end brine from the first thickener. As disclosed in my copending application it is important to subject this slurry to a pre-carbonating treatment by agitating it, as in a container I9, with the remainder of' the magnesia end brine to convert all of the lime of the dolomiticfine hydrates to CaClz. It is important also that at the end ofthis step the slurry carries about 5 percent-excess MgCl2 (or about 0.2 per cent of the total cycling brine at this point) and CaClz from about 20 to 30 per cent in excess of the requirements of Reaction II. This results in al suspension of Mg('OH)2 4 `in a brine of calcium and magnesium chlorides having a pH of about 9 to 10. 'I'he pre-carbonator I0 also receives an amount of thickened 1 slurry from the last thickener of the counter current decantation system v'I I and a further amount from a spray tower 20, the functioning of which is described hereinafter. It also receives Mg(OH) z slurry from another thickener 2 I, likewise described subsequently.

From the pre-carbonator I8 the mixture passes to a carbonator 22 into which gases fromJ kiln I are passed, preferably after being treated in an electrostatic precipitator 23. The reaction produces precipitated CaCOa and regenerated MgCl2 brine. The slurry from the carbonator, which at the end of the reaction has a DH of about 5 to 6, then passes to a thickener 24 the underflow from whichv is subjected to treatment in accordance with the present invention, del scribed later.

Considering now in greater detail the improvements provided by the present invention, I have vfound Jthatdispersion of the Mg(OI-I')'2 can be repressed both by usingy a larger amount of CaClz brine for hydrating the dolomite calcine andv also by having sulfate in solution in the MgCl2 brine, and that the maximum repressing effect is obtained by using both factors. Preferably, hydration in hydrator 3 is effected with as much of the brine a's can be used while still producing a dry hydrate. Using the pure CaCla brine described above I now prefer to se about 50 to 55 per cent based on the weight of the calcine. This produces a hydrate at a temperature f of about to 150 F. which is slightly damp but which driesto a granular mass after storage or aging for about 12 to 24 hours. The MgCl2 brine overflow from thickener2 of the carbonate branch is passed together with the ltrate from the CaCO3 filter 25 to a claritying filter 26 for removal of any residual suspended solid matter that may be present. Fil-` trate from 1ter'26 which, `as mentioned above,

in the carbonate bra is virtually free from sulfate, passes to a multiple eifectl evaporator, 21 in which it is concentrated to prepare it for recycling .to precipitator I0. It is important to.\ note that the CaC carries down with it almost all of the CaSO4 present 5 in the slurry from the pre-fcarbonator. This is important because otherwise the evaporators would scale to such an extent as to interfere seriously with the economyv of the process.

A portion of the evaporator eilluent, say I30 to 40, per cent, is passed to a, spray tower y28 for scrubbing the combustion gasesjfrom ykiln I6. These gases contain SO2 and HC1-derived from the sulfate of the fuel and from sulfate and 1 C aSQ4 and CaClz, together with a minor amount of MgCl2 and MgSO4 due to the presence of a small amount of Mg(OH)2 in the carbonate cake.

Oxidation of SO2 to S03 is accomplished by atmospheric oxygen.

After leaving spray tower 28 the mixture passes to a thickener 29. The underflow is passed to waste or -returned to the spray tower 28, as desired, and the overflow joins the eiuent from evaporator A2I on its way to an atmospheric coolr 30. The spray tower also serves the useful purpose .of effecting some evaporation vof the. brine, thus reducing the load on the evapora,-

y in cooler 30 so'that it reaches reactor `il) at labout '70.to 85 F. From cooler330 the brine passes to a tank 3| where a` further amount of calcium suliate, or "gypsum, may be dissolved in it. The

brine passes thence to a tank 3 2'where its com- 'position may be controlled, if Ineed be. Formost purposes the brine should at this, point be oi the 1l-3 composition described abovey as best suited for the precipitation reaction, and this relative amountof MgCl2 and C aClz is best controlled by the amount of Mg(O I- I)z slurry taken from the underiiow of the third thickener of the counter current decantation-system II anddelivered to the'pre-carbonating'mixer I9.

If the preferred 11-3 MgCl2 brine 'contains more CaS O4 than corresponds .to fabout 0.002

gram S03 per cc., the excess crystallizes in about l2 to lighours, and a filter 32 is provided to remove 'the crystallizedd gypsum. The cake may be pased'to the gypsum. dissolver 3L 'I'he cycling magnesia end brine from the firs stage ofthe counter current decantation system II contains a substantial amount of calcium 'sul-r fate. As indicated above, I have discovered that this can be reduced by storage fbrine f to an amount which rovides'satisfactory,.results To this-:ending brine.

is held for a period of tinteto permit spontaneous 34 on way to creamer I8 and pre-carbonator I 9.. 'I'he CaSO4 cake from filter 3l may be cycled to the gypsum dissolver 3|. A portion of this brine may be |bypased lto spray tower 20' for collecting-the fines which escape from hydrato'r 3 with the steam evolved during hydration. l The pure CaCl: brine necessary for hydrating`v the calcine is formed conveniently by passing about 40 per cent of the relatively'dilute overflow from the second thckener of counter current decantation system II to a reaction tank 35 Where it' meets a portion of the slurry from creamer I8 ofthe carbonate branch, these twov reactants being so proportioned that MgCl: Ipresent is converted to Mg(OH) a, thus producing a slurry of Mg(OH)2.in a CaClz brine substantially free from MgCl2. This slurry passes to a thickener2l from which the underow goes, as

described above, to pre-carbonator I9, while the overflow is passed to a tank 36 where the conz centration of CaCla 'can be adjusted, ifv need be, lby addition of the solid salt. From this tank the brine passes to hydrator 3 and Creamer 9.

Returning now tothe carbonate branch, the use of brine containing sulfate results, to repeat, in a CaCOs which ismuch finer than is produced under identical conditions but Without the pres` lence of sulfate. I have discovered, however, that this fine carbonate can be rendered rapidly iilterable without substantially increasing ,its desirably fine particle size by heating the product, from the carbonator, and most suitably by heating it to boiling. To this end-the underilow from thickener24 is passed. to a heating tank 31 via a heat exchanger 38 which partially heats the slurry on Aits way to the heater and partially cools it on its return. The slurry then passes to lter 25, the cake from which is repulped in a repulper 39' and again filtered on a lter 40, where the cake is washed, with production of precipita ted-CaCOs.

Further information'concerning the invention'- Per cent CaO 30.3l MgO -n 21.49 Si'Oz r0.351 R203 0.36 Ign. 1oss 47.40

. The hydrated magnesiaproducedas describedl above carries about 1.5'to l2.0 per cent of "magnesium and calcium chlorides together with'calf cium sulfate equivaient to about 0.3 to 0.5 per cent of S,both on'the dry basis. The slurry of this hydrated magnesiawhich constitutes the underiiow from the' counter-current decantation thickener, either with or without correction'n of its composition as described above. filters at a rate of about 4 to 8 pounds of dry product per hour per square foot of gross drum surface. This is a substantially lower rate\than is obtained in ypracticing the process described in my aforesaid app1ication. However, it is a commercially acceptable rate and there is'the advantageous fact that the cake characteristically contains not less4 than 50 percent of solids,a content not attained hitherto in hydrated magnesia filter cakes so far as I am aware.

I now believe that this unusually high concen- Y terial which results in maximum density when the slurry is filtered, and that, the colloidal magnesiawhich accomplishes this `result arises largely or wholly from effecting the magnesia precipitation at a temperature substantially above that of the process of my above-identiiicd application. 'It might be expected that this content of colloidal material would render the filtering rate so slow as to prevent commercial application but the fact that the magnesia filters at an acceptable rate is, I believe, dueto the modified mode of hydration described above and to the use of a cycling brine containing sulfate in solu- 4dispersion of the hydrated magnesia becomes too great, as evidenced by a decrease in ltering rate, this can be controlled over a Wide range by refrigerating the wash waterthat is fed to the countercurrent decantation system, say by cool- Y tion. Each of those factors contributes, I believe,

ing it to 40 to 50 F. In the production of 100 tons of calcined magnesia per day by the present process that would involve the refrigeration of only 142 gallons per minute of Wash water as my earlier process. Thus, dispersion of magnesia may be controlled by cooling the wash 'water withoutvrefrigerating the main flow of brine.

A typical analysis of magnesia produced in this manner is as follows:`

Per cent 0.66 0.66

R203 CaO, 2.34 MgO 96.34

'I'he precipitated CaCOs made from brine containing calcium sulfate equivalent to about 0.0006 to 0.0009 gram of S03 per cc. is extremely fine, having about the following range of particle size which is compared-with an average product of my earlier application.

[Percent by weight Present process Earlier process Less than one micron 3 1-5 mim-:mq 6-10 mirvrnng 10-20 microns -40 microns Over 40 microns CaCO 94.30 MgCOaMg (OH) 23H20 3.55 SOz-l-Rzoc .16 MgCl2 .30 C8504 1.69

The MgO of this carbonate averages about 40 per cent less than is carried by CaCOc produced by the process of my aforesaid copending application.

Despite the much greater iineness of this car- A 5 bonate as compared with that of my earlier process, th'heating step which constitutes a feature ofthe invention maintains a high filtering rate without substantial change of 'the desirably lne particle size. Thus, if the slurry is ltered without heating the filtering rate is only about 10 to 15 pounds per hour per square footof total drum surface, but after` heating to boiling the` rate is 40 to 60 pounds per'hour. While I do 'not commit myself to this, Iibeheve .that thecarbonate is precipitated, at least in large part, `as

very'ne needle-like crystals ofaragonite',= and that the heating to boiling converts them into cuboidal crystals, of calcite which filter more freely. Thus it will be understood-that the inv `maintainingthe filterability oi CaCO: made from the magnesia end brines.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and mode of practicing my invention and have described what I now consider to represent itsl best embodiment.

However, I desire tojhaveit understood that,

within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise'than as` speciiically described.

- I claim:

1. In a cyclic process of" producingmagnesia and calcium carbonate from calcined dolomite in which the dolomite is dry hydrated with, acalcium chloride brine, the hydrated material-is dlvided into a granular and afines fraction the i particles of which average finer than th`ose of the granular fraction, said granular fraction is treated with cycling magnesium chloride brine to precipitate lhydrated magnesia and produce a cycling calcium chloride brine, and the magne-v sium chloride brine is regenerated by Vtreating said iines fraction with said cycling calcium chloride brine and carbon dioxide, the steps comprising dry hydrating the dolomite calcine with said calcium chloride brine substantially. free from magnesium chloride, and eiecting said precipitation of hydrated magnesia with a .magnesium chloride brine containingv dissolved sulfate and thereby repressing dispersion of 'the hydrated magnesia.

2. In a cyclic process of producing magnesia and calcium carbonate from calcined dolomite in which the dolomite is dry hydrated withl a calcium chloride brine, the hydrated material is divided nto a granular and a fines fraction the particles of which average ner than those of the granular fraction, said granular fraction is treated with cycling magnesium chloride brine to precipitate hydrated magnesia and produce a cycling calcium chloride brine, and the magnesium. chloride brine is regenerated by treating said ilnes fraction. withy said cycling calcium chloride brine and carbon dioxide, the steps comprising dry hydrating the dolomite calcine with said calcium chloride brine substantially free ffrom magnesium chloride, `and said precipitation of hydrated magnesia is effected with a magnesium' chloride brine containing disprising dry hydrating the dolomite with about 50l to 55 per cent by weight of cal-cium chloride brine substantially free from magnesium chloridevand of 1.05 to 1.08 specic gravity dividing the hyvCaSOi.

I l' calcium carbonate from dol drates into a granular and a nes fraction the particles of which average liner than those of the granular fraction, reacting saidgranular fraction witha cycling magnesium chloridebrine containing dissolved sulfate to precipitate hydrated mag-l nesia and produceacycling `calcium chloride brine containing sulfate,and treating said fines fractionwith said cycling calcium chloride brine and carbon dioxide to precipitate calciumvcarbonate and regenerate magnesium chloride brine substantially. free from sulfate.A 4. A process according to claim 3 in which said said magnesia branch 'ofi about 0.0015 tol 0.0025 gram per cc., whereby the grains of the granular fraction are' rendered resistant to dispersion.

10. In a cyclic process of making magnesia and'` calcium carbonate from dolomite in which call cined dolomite is reacted in a magnesia branch of the process with a strong magnesium chloride brinefto precipitate hydrated magnesio.v and produce an end b'rine containing calcium chloride,

and said end brinev is reacted in a carbonate branch of the process with another portion of calcined dolomite and carbon dioxide to produce calcium chloride brine is-aged' to eilect precipi` tation of a portion of its `dissloved sulfate as 5. A cyclic process 'ofpr'oducing hydrated magnesia and-calcium carbonate from calcined 'dolomite which' comprises vdry Vhydrating the dolomite calcine with aboutl 50 to 55 per centby weight of a calcium chloride brine substantially free from magnesiumchlorideand of about 1.05 to 1.08 4specificv gravity, dividing the hydrates into granular and iines fractions, the particles of said nes fraction averaging ner than those of said y granular fraction, treating the granular fraction from said kiln are'scrubbed with said regenerated i brine and a portion of ,said carbonate, whereby to add calcium sulfate to the brine and prepare it for recirculation to treat a further amount of the 'granularhydrates '1. A process according to claim 5 in which l Athe iiltrate from said CaCOs slurry is evaporated lltoconcentrate it, and sulfate is added to the con centrated brine and to prepare it for recirculation to 'treat a further amount of the granular-hydrates. Y

8. A process according.' to claim 5 in which the brine to yprepare it to treat a, further amount of the granular hydrates.

9. In acyclic-process of making-magnesi andv te in which l-g calcium carbonate and regenerate said 'ma`g' nesium chloridebrine, the steps of dry hydrating the calcined dolomite, prior to said reactions, with about 50 to 55 per cent by weight of the calcined dolomite of a calcium chloride brine substantially free from magnesium chloride, whereby the fresh dry hydrate is slightly moist but displays no free moisture, storing the thus hydrated material until it is dry, grinding and separating the hydrated material into a granular portion and afines portion the particles of whichaverage nner than. those of said granular portion, passing said granbranch, maintaining a^ concentration of S03 in' -ular portion to said magnesia branch of the proc- I 'ess and said nes vportion to said carbonate said strong magnesium chloride brine usedinsaid magnesia banch of about 0.0015 to 0.0025 gram per cc., lwhereby the grains of the granular fraction are rendered resistant to dispersion, and

carrying in brine of said carbonatey branch be- `fore carbonation a concentration of S03 oi' about '0.0006 to 0.0012 gram per'cc.

11.`In"a cyclic process of making magnesia from dolomite by reacting one 'portion' of -calcined dolomite with magnesium chloride brine in a magnesia branch of the process to precipitate' hydrated magnesia, and in which processA the magnesium chloride brine used in said magnesia branch is regenerated by treating vthe end brine e from the said reaction' with a second substantially equal vportion of calcined dolomite and carl bon dioxide with precipitation of calcium' car--J A ltrate from said -CaCOa slurry is evaporated to concentrate it, and gypsum is'dissolved in the cined dolomite .is reacted in magnesio. branch of the processA with a strong magnesium'chloride brine to precipitate hydrated magnesia and produce an end brine containing calcium chloride,

and said end ybrine -is reacted in acarbonate branchv of the process with another portion of calcined dolomite and carbon dioxide to produce calcium carbonate and regenerate said magnesium chloride brine, the' steps of dry hydrating` the calcined dolomite,1prior to said reactions,`with.

'calcium chloride brine substantially free from l magnesium' chloride, grinding and separating the hydrated material into a granularportion and a nes portion the particles of which average'ner 4than those of said granular portion, passing said granularportion to said magnesia branch of the process and said fines portion toA said carbonate branch, and maintaining a, concentration of S03 v in said strong magnesium chloride brine used in bcnate, that method of producing-the calcium .carbonate in a rapidly settling and'free filtering form which comprises treating said second portion of calcined dolomite` with said end brine from the magnesia branch in an amount to react with all of the lime in said Vsecond portionof dolomitel and provide a slight vexcess of magne,

sium chloride, to thereby provide a slurry of hydrated` magnesia in. a-brine containing predominantly calcium chloride, then carbonating the said slurry, and, carrying in the calcium chloride brine before carbonation a concentration of SO: I

@about 0.0006 to 0.0012 grani per cc.

12j. A process according to claim 11 in which the pH of said slurry before carbonation is 9.0`

13. In a; cyclicprocess of makingmagnesia andicalcium carbonate-'nom dolomite in which one portion of calcined dolomite is reacted in a magnesia branch of the process with a magnesium chloride brine to precipitate hydrated magnesia and produce an end brine containing calcium chloride, and said end brine is reacted in a carbonate branch of the process with another s ubstantially equal portion of calcineddolomite and carbon'dioxide to produce calcium carbonate and regenerate said magnesium chloride .'brine, the methodv of producing a. rapidly settling free filtering calcium carbonate in 'said carbonate branch, and hydrated magnesia insaid magnesio. branch which is .highlyresistant to dispersion, which.

2,373,913 comprises lbeginning the reaction in said magcium chloride brine s0 that a productcontaining granular hydrated materialis produced, grinding the granular'material to below a predetermined particle .size4 and separating said-ground material into a granular portion and al nes portion the particles of which average finer than those of the granular portion, said granular portion is treated with magnesium chloride brine to precipitate magnesium hydrate and produce a calcium chlo ride brine, and magnesium chloride brine is made by treating said lines portion with calcium chloride brine and carbon dioxide, the step of eilecting said precipitation of magnesium hydrate with magnesium chloride brine containing dissolved slurry.

sulphate and thereby repressing dispersion of the hydratedmagnesia.

15. A yclic process of producing hydrated magnesia and calcium carbonate from calcined dolomite which comprises dry hydrating the dolo- ,mite calcinewith about 50 to 55 per cent by weight of a calcium chloride brine substantially free from magnesium chloride and about 1.05 to 1.08 specific gravity, dividing the hydrates into granular and fines fractions, the particles of said fines fraction averaging finer than those of said granular fraction, treating the granular fraction with magnesium chloride brine containing dissolved sulfate Itoprecipitate hydrated magnesia and form a calcium chloride brine containing sulfate, treating the iines fraction with said calcium chloride brine and carbo`n dioxide to precipitate calcium carbonate and regeneratemagnesium chloride brine substantially free from sulfate, settling the precipitation calcium carbonate to .form a thickened slurry, and filtering the ROBERT D.l PIKE. 

